Cheese and Dairy

Germany’s dairy industry is one of Europe’s largest and includes hundreds of artisan cheese makers, many of them located in Bavaria. The following cheeses are available within North America. All have been carefully screened by German Foods North America, and we can recommend them as perfect additions to your meals.

Due to different regulatory frameworks in the US and Europe, it is very difficult to import milk products, such as yogurt or quark, from Germany. If we find comparable products made in the US or Canada, we will list them for your convenience.  

To learn more about various kinds of German cheeses, visit our Guide to German Cheese and Dairy Products.  And check out our tips for pairing cheese and wine and Cheese and Beer

Adler — Known since 1992 as the maker of Asler Edelcreme soft cheeses in an iconic triangular package. Edlecreme comes in many varieties such as mushroom, chives, salami or herbs. A subsidiary of Bel Deutschland. (Bavaria)
Brand Site

Allgaeuland — Known for producing great Hirtenkäse under the Castello Alp Selection brand, as well as creamy cheeses. Now a subsidiary of the Danish Arla Dairy conglomerate. (Bavaria)
Brand Site

Alpenhain — Started with “brick” cheese in 1905 in the town of Sachrang in Allgaeuland. Today, the company exports a large assortment of long shelf life cheeses, soft-ripened cheeses, and frozen baked cheeses. (Bavaria)
Brand Site

Appel Farms — It's hard to get the famous fresh German-made quark cheese in the US due to its short shelf life. Quark is a unique cheese product tasting somewhere between craime fraiche and cotttage cheese. We recommend Washington State based Appel Farms, a quark producer since the 1960s. (USA)
Brand Site

Baerenmarke — Germany's most famous brand of canned or evaporated milk, used as a tasty coffee creamer. Originated in 1898 in Switzerland under the leaderhip of Cesar Ritz (of Ritz Hotel fame) and the culinary guru Auguste Escoffier. The offical brand was launched in 1912 in Bavaria and is today part of the Hochwald Food Group. (Bavaria)
Brand Site

Bayernland — Headquartered in Nuernberg, this company is another one of Bavaria's large dairies, producing cheese spreads, emmentaler and other cheese specialties for export. (Bavaria)
Brand Site

Bergader — Makes the famous cheese brands Bavaria Blue (Gorgonzola-Camembert mix) and Basil's Original Smoked Cheese (Räucherkäse). Founded in 1902 by Basil Weixler whose first cheese was a Bavarian Mountain Roquefort. (Bavaria)
Brand Site

Birkenstock — Käserei Birkenstock is known for making great "Handcheese," the Frankfurt sour milk specialty cheese. Founded 1959 by Heinrich Birkenstock in Hochelheim/Hüttenberg Germany. It produces a wide variety of cheeses, many of which are organic. (Hesse)
Brand Site

Boerde Käse — Founded in 1879, this family-owned company was the second largest cheese producer in the former East Germany and re-privatized to the former owner in 1992. Today, the company produces high quality specialty products, like the all natural smoked cheese 'Bördespeck', goat cheeses and cheese spreads with mushrooms. (Saxony Anhalt)
Brand Site

Champignon — Käserei Champignon, founded over 100 years ago, launched one of the first cheese consumer brands in Bavaria. Their most famous product is Cambozola, an aromatic mix of Camembert and Gorgonzola. They also make camembert with mushrooms and other ingredients. (Bavaria)
Brand Site

Hochland — A large Western Bavarian dairy producer with well-known brands like Hochland, Almette, Valbrie, Patros, Grünländer and Gervais, in the processed cheese, hard cheese and sliced cheese, cream cheese, soft cheese, feta cheese, and cottage cheese segments. (Bavaria)
Brand Site

Jermi — Famous for excellent smoked creamy cheese spreads and smoked cheese/ham roll, this family-owned company offeres a large assortment of industrial and consumer cheese products. (Baden-Wuerttemberg)
Brand Site

Käserebellen — The small family-owned Käserebellen (Cheese Rebel) GmbH produces King Ludwig Cheese and Rebel Cheese made from hay-fed Alpine cow milk according to old traditional recipes. Founded in 1860 in Sulzberg by four farmers, their modern facility is now located in Steingaden, Germany. (Bavaria)
Brand Site

Landliebe — A producer of GMO free dairy products such as whipped cream, quark, milk, layered cream cheese (Schichtkäse), pudding, Ice cream and lactose-free products. (Baden-Wuerttemberg)
Brand Site

Landsberg — Under the Landsberg brand, the famous sour milk specialty cheese called "Handkäse" from the Frankfurt region is now available in North America. A slightly rancid smelling cheese with a great taste, especially if consumed with vinegar, caraway and tart apple cider. Popular among dieters and health food fans. (Hesse)
Brand Site

Limburger — Originating in the the Duchy of Limburg (today, Herve in Belgium), this cheese became popular as "Backsteinkäse" among Bavarian cheesemakers in the early 1800s. It's the proverbial "stinky cheese," due to bacteria that are added to give Limbuger a unique elastic texture and truly aromatic, spicy taste. (Bavaria)
Brand Site

Meggle — Known for fantastic-tasting butter and cheese products. Established in 1887, the company prides itself on having the largest and most modern dairy factory in Munich. (Bavaria)
Brand Site

Palmin — A venerated brand of vegetable fat (certified from sustainable agricultural sources) frequently used by home and professional chefs for high temperature frying or baking fats. Healthier than lard or shortening. The brand is owned by Koelln GmbH (Schleswig Holstein)
Brand Site

Rama — Rama is a well known German margarine brand, originating in 1924. Today, the brand also encompasses cheese spreads and vegetable fats, sold world wide - also as Blue Band - by Unilever Deutschland GmbH. (Hamburg)
Brand Site